Anxious with Reason: The Future of the American Worker

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Anxious with Reason:

The Future of the American Worker

Presentation to the New America Foundation

October 14, 2008

Cliff Zukin, Ph.D.

Carl Van Horn, Ph.D.

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2 The Anxious American Worker

John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development

WORKTRENDS: Americans’ Attitudes About

Work, Employers, and Government

 1,000 person national sample

 587 in workforce

 Conducted May 14-25, 2008

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ABC News/Washington Post Poll

10/08-11

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91 53 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

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Preferred Hours Among

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Satisfaction with Education and Training

for Getting a Job

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Dissatisfaction with Education and Training for

Job Preparation by Yearly Income

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Satisfaction with Health Benefits

by Job and Gender

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Roiling of the Workforce

 13% were laid off in the last three years

 28% said others were laid off in their workplace

 15% anticipate layoffs occurring in the next 12 months in their workplace

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8 Truly Horrible Things

 Unemployed and looking for work or Working part time and would prefer full time or Dissatisfied with current job

 Feel paid a lot less than worth

 Have more in credit card debt than retirement savings

 Feel they will never be able to retire or not until at least 70 years of age

 Often don’t have enough to make ends meet  Dissatisfied with formal education

 Dissatisfied with health care or medical coverage

 Very concerned with job security or Have been laid off in the past 12 months

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8 Truly Horrible Things

 0 Score = 29%  1 to 2 = 44%

 3 or more = 27%  1.8 Score = Average

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Who’s Responsible for Helping

Laid Off Workers?

21 12 25 52 21 16 19 27 40 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Ju n -0 3 S e p -0 3 D e c-0 3 M a r-0 4 Ju n -0 4 S e p -0 4 D e c-0 4 M a r-0 5 Ju n -0 5 S e p -0 5 D e c-0 5 M a r-0 6 Ju n -0 6 S e p -0 6 D e c-0 6 M a r-0 7 Ju n -0 7 S e p -0 7 D e c-0 7 M a r-0 8 Ju n -0 8 Government Employer Workers

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Who’s Responsible for Helping

Laid Off Workers?

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Who Should Help Workers

Prepare for Retirement?

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The Changing Realities of Work

in the 21st Century Economy

Mid 20th Century

 Permanent  Stable

 Advancement  Loyalty

 One and Done Education  Health Care from Employer  Defined Benefit Pension

 “Early” Retirement  Safety Net for Most

Early 21st Century  Temporary/Contingent  Volatile  Stagnation  Disaffection  Lifelong Learning  Shared HC Responsibility  Defined Contribution  “Never” Retire

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A New Paradigm for Workforce Development

Policy and Practice

Aligning Workforce Programs with Market Realities  Unemployment Insurance

 Portable Health Benefits

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A New Paradigm for Workforce Development

Policy and Practice

Creating a Competitive Economy with Competitive Workers  Demand/Supply Connections

 Lifelong Learning

 Employer-Based Training

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A New Paradigm for Workforce Development

Policy and Practice

Adjusting to Work-Filled Retirement  Reforming Social Security

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WORKTRENDS: Americans’ Attitudes About

Work, Employers, and Government

The Anxious American Worker

Cliff Zukin, Ph.D.

Senior Faculty Fellow, Heldrich Center for

Workforce Development, Rutgers University

Professor of Public Policy & Political Science

[email protected]

Carl Van Horn, Ph.D.

Director, Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, Rutgers University

[email protected] http://www.heldrich.rutgers.edu/News/NewsDetail.aspx?id=1336